The cut-away image above is of the first Ross Canister System. Access was by means of a clamp at the back, which was awkward at best. The canister inside had sharp corners. The rubber couplings fit over the bottoms of the stocks and the stocks were secured by means of hose clamps. Starts and stops were extremely challenging, making necessary inserts into the bottoms of the stocks. All very complicated and crude by today’s standards. In 1998 The Victoria Police won the World Pipe Band Championship. All pipers within the band played the Ross Bag and Canister system. After that supply could hardly keep up to demand. This also opened the door for further innovation and improvement. Zipper access was a huge step forward, as was more sophisticated internal components. The bag itself also evolved, using a more substantial material that provided better control and comfort.
All synthetic bags come with the manufacture’s directions on maintenance. Truthfully, these bags require little maintenance and will generally last for three or more years. Periodically lubricate the zipper, if your bag is so equipped. If you’re not using a moisture control system, you’ll need to inspect the condition of your reeds frequently. Moisture build-up inside the bag can negatively impact the sound and behavior of your reeds. Conversely, if you’re playing in a hot, dry climate, you may need to introduce additional moisture into the bag.
There are a number of moisture control systems and you should understand how they work and what you need to watch for. First of all, whether it’s a simple watertrap installed in your blowpipe stock or something more complicated, you need to make sure that it’s installed correctly. If hoses are involved, you need to periodically check to ensure they’re connected and that they’re properly connected. Sometimes a piper’s instrument starts to wander and an internal inspection will reveal that a hose has come loose or that someone has hooked something up inside wrongly. Know your system and check it regularly.
Some moisture control systems extract moisture as it enters the bag through the blowpipe. Other systems manage the air that’s already in the bag. Some systems manage moisture on a general basis while other systems manage the moisture going to each individual reed. Either way, know your system and visit it regularly.
In terms of general maintenance, ensure the stocks are secure in the bag and air is not escaping around the stock seals. Ensure that no air is escaping around the chanter stock especially. Ensure that the stocks are not “rocking” back and forth in the grommets. Sometimes a bag will appear air-tight when the stocks are corked however when the weight of the drones angles the stocks backwards, leaks can occur.
Assuming your bag has a zipper, open it after playing to allow the bag to dry inside. It’s not a bad idea to vacuum any visible dust from inside the bag which might otherwise wind up on your reeds.
If you do develop a leak, you’re sometimes able to extend the life of the bag by applying silicone to the inside at the point where the leak is occurring. I’m sure that the manufacturers warranty will be voided if it hasn’t expired already. The good news is that you may be able to coax a few more miles out of the bag.
